title: Induction of MGMT expression is associated with temozolomide resistance in glioblastoma xenografts.
abstract: Temozolomide (TMZ)-based therapy is the standard of care for patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), and resistance to this drug in GBM is modulated by the DNA repair protein O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT). Expression of MGMT is silenced by promoter methylation in approximately half of GBM tumors, and clinical studies have shown that elevated MGMT protein levels or lack of MGMT promoter methylation is associated with TMZ resistance in some, but not all, GBM tumors. In this study, the relationship between MGMT protein expression and tumor response to TMZ was evaluated in four GBM xenograft lines that had been established from patient specimens and maintained by serial subcutaneous passaging in nude mice. Three MGMT unmethylated tumors displayed elevated basal MGMT protein expression, but only two of these were resistant to TMZ therapy (tumors GBM43 and GBM44), while the other (GBM14) displayed a level of TMZ sensitivity that was similar in extent to that seen in a single MGMT hypermethylated line (GBM12). In tissue culture and animal studies, TMZ treatment resulted in robust and prolonged induction of MGMT expression in the resistant GBM43 and GBM44 xenograft lines, while MGMT induction was blunted and abbreviated in GBM14. Consistent with a functional significance of MGMT induction, treatment of GBM43 with a protracted low-dose TMZ regimen was significantly less effective than a shorter high-dose regimen, while survival for GBM14 was improved with the protracted dosing regimen. In conclusion, MGMT expression is dynamically regulated in some MGMT nonmethylated tumors, and in these tumors, protracted dosing regimens may not be effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Gaspar J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Kitange
authors.forename: Brett L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: Patrick T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Grogan
authors.forename: Jeff D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lamont
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.forename: Wenting
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: C David
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Jann N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Sarkaria
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000077204:Temozolomide; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D003606:Dacarbazine; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases; C515491:MGMT protein, human; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes; D000077204:Temozolomide